CASTLE ROCK — The Douglas County school board Tuesday night took another step toward a voucher program, with the board president saying he would like a pilot program for the 2011-12 school year.

The unanimous vote came after an hour of public comments that were about equally split on whether the district should pursue such a program.

In the end, the board agreed to have Superintendent Elizabeth Celania-Fagen analyze whether vouchers would be good for the school district. After that analysis, the board will receive additional public input and make a final decision.

Vouchers are just one of several school-choice options Celania-Fagen will analyze, but they have been the focal point of discussions.

“I think that’s exciting,” board president John Carson said of a potential voucher system. “I think it’s an idea we should look at.”

Some at the packed school-board meeting room were not in favor of using public money for a private education, especially for religious schools. Thirteen of the 14 private schools in the district are religious.

They carried signs that read “Keep Public Money in Public Schools” and “Do Not Bankrupt Our Schools.”

“I think this would help destroy the public school system,” said former teacher Sue Carter.

Supporters, however, say having more options, even in a high-achieving district like Douglas County, is important.

“I am being robbed of my choices,” Kendal Unruh said. “Vouchers give parents and students the option to choose.”

The superintendent will need to decide the legal implications of going to vouchers, given the likelihood of a legal challenge.

Also, it is unclear how the Colorado Department of Education would deal with the district’s becoming the first in the state to offer vouchers.

The voucher proposal would create an option certificate program, which would issue payments to private schools on behalf of parents.

The program would give each participant up to $4,900 for tuition at a private school — or about 75 percent of state funding for each Douglas County student.

The district would hold on to 25 percent of the state funding, or about $1,635.

Supporters say that would help in a district that has already made severe budget cuts and faces more in the coming years.

While vouchers are typically used to improve low-income, underachieving school districts, some in the crowd said that all parents — regardless of wealth — should have as many options as possible.

“I don’t think this proposal is about solving a problem,” said Pam Mazanec. “This is about more choice.”

Others, however, urged the district to slow down.

“I’m against the voucher idea as it has been presented,” said Gwen Wilhelm. “I believe the board is moving too quickly on this.”

School board member Justin Williams said he supports vouchers because it empowers parents to make the decisions on how their children are educated.

“It’s their money, and that money should follow them wherever they go,” Williams said.

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